ANOTHER CLASH

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 31 August 1929, Page 5

ANOTHER CLASH

PERSONAL CROSS-TALK. VERBAL DUEL IN HOUSE. PATE A ELECTION STORY, (By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. In addition to the clash between the member for Thames and the Minister of Education, which aroused so much interest in the House to-day, there was another exchange of strong opinion between Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) and Mr T. W. MacDonald (Wairarapa). The two antagonists had tilted at each other earlier in the session, and Mr Nash returned to the matter in order to give fuller information regarding a school building transaction which had been the subject of Mr MacDonald’s criticism.

This member, said Mr Nash, had gone' into his constituency “fossicking” to find out all lie could to his disadvantage, but, thank God, there was nothing he could find. “The member for Wairarapa,” he continued, “has lived for years on the hope of entering Parliament, and I will tell the House of ail interview he had with a gentleman on a train just prior to the Patea election. It- is interesting, and the House will enjoy it.” Mr Nash went on to explain that Mr MacDonald encountered a gentleman whom lie asked if he knew anyone very well in Hawera. On receiving the reply lie asked if this gentleman was in a high position and interested in Reform. Again he. had on affirmative answer, when Mr MacDonald continued: “You might send him a telegram telling him I am a personal friend of yours and I am coming up to offer mviself as the Reform candidate for Patea, and the gentleman said ‘No!’ ” Mr MacDonald: I never was a candidate.

Mr Nash: We can give him plenty of letters to prove that he tried to be a candidate for Patea.

Mr MacDonald, on the point of personal explanation, said that he had' no recollection of such an interview, and this, like all other statements made by his critic, was a misrepresentation. (Opposition laughter.) “Ais a member of the jury,” commented Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon), “I have not been able to make up my mind whether the member for Wairarapa knows more about the member for Palmerston North than the latter knows about the l member for Wairarapa. Perhaps, Mr Speaker, you could sum up in judicial form.” (Laughter.) Mr W. Lee Martin (Raglan) : And liang them both. (Loud laughter.)